Kerry confronts Putin and ISIS

In a dangerous world, it is good that America has a secretary of State with the toughness, experience and resolve of John Kerry. In recent hours, Kerry has given a powerful and forceful response to the latest aggression against Ukraine by Russian strongman Vladimir Putin and has moved to deepen and expand the coalition that works to defeat and destroy those who perpetrated their latest butchery, this time against a Jordanian hero.

{mosads}Make no mistake: Putin is invading Ukraine with the same combination of brute force and stealth that characterized the former Soviet dictators whose defeat Putin has mourned and whose imperialism Putin would revive. Kerry, a student of history and a decorated veteran of war, understands this. He has been in Europe this week, rallying the free world to greater resolve, which will lead to even stronger sanctions against Russia, soon, unless Putin pulls back.

Putin’s aggression represents a serious existential threat to the security of Europe. Kerry is right. A strong and united European response is called for, and is coming. Either Putin will back off or the response from the West will ultimately be so economically aggressive and severe that the Russian economy will end up in depression and the strongman will bear responsibility with his people.

Similarly, the murder of a Jordanian hero by those who abuse the Muslim faith and falsely call themselves the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has backfired. There is a powerful resolve in response from King Abdullah and the people and military of Jordan. Kerry has long championed, and continues to organize today, the most aggressive response to the most heinous mass murderers on the face of the earth. ISIS defames true Islam, and the murder of a Jordanian Sunni Muslim dramatizes their defamation of Islam and rallies the people of the United States, Europe and the Sunni and Shiite Muslim worlds to the cause of their defeat, destruction and death.

My view remains: To win this war that must be won, there must be a ground force of at least 15,000 special operations troops composed equally of Americans, Europeans and member states of the Arab League to complement the bombing campaign.

We live in a dangerous world, and America benefits from having a secretary of State who understands this and champions a forceful response to the strongman in Russia and the mass murderers in the Middle East.

Budowsky was an aide to former Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Texas) and former Rep. Bill Alexander (D-Ark.), who was then chief deputy majority whip of the House. He holds an LL.M. degree in international financial law from the London School of Economics. Contact him at brentbbi@webtv.net.